Book Review: Midnight in the Snow by Karen Swan

 Midnight in the Snow

by

Karen Swan

 

An unstoppable connection. A secret that will change everything.

 

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia

 

Publication date: 14th October 2021

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

 

Pages: 480

 

RRP: $32.99 AUD

 

Format read: Paperback

 

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

My review

 

Every year I eagerly await Karen Swan's Christmas release. Whilst Australia is sweltering through summer heat I can escape to somewhere cold and, most often, snowy.

 

Midnight in the Snow is set in the Austrian Alps in the lead up to Christmas Day. Journalist Clover Phillips is riding high on the success of her documentary on ex-surfing great, Cory Albright - Cory had suffered a near drowning and subsequent brain injury, whilst competing. 

 

Karen Swan highlights how close a journalist gets with the family they are working with as Clover spent many months living with Cory, his wife and their three sons.

 

Wanting to follow with an equally explosive documentary Clover decides to go after Kit Foley, Cory's nemesis and the cause of his accident. Foley has left the surfing world and is now focused on snowboarding, where he is making his name known.

 

Our two main characters, Clover and Kit, had a real hate for each other and I love a good enemies to lovers trope. However I would have liked a lot more emotion and sexual friction between them. It was there, but it was very sparse.

 

I loved the portrayal of the two main characters; Clover was determined and relentless, she wanted her story, and Kit the po-surfer turned snowboarder was hostile, insular and aloof.

It's not until you dig deep that you get the real story and Clover is prepared to dig, but what she finds even shocks her.

 

The setting imagery was, as always, amazing and I enjoyed the little peek into the professional sports world. Some of the twists I'd guessed early on but there were also some that took me by surprise. 

 

And then there are  those little snatches of poetic prose that make Swan's writing so evocative.

 

my rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

 About the author

 

Karen Swan is the Sunday Times top three bestselling author of twenty-one books, and her novels sell all over the world. She writes two books each year - one for the summer period and one for the Christmas season. Previous winter titles include Christmas at Tiffany's , The Christmas Party and Together by Christmas, and for summer, The Spanish Promise, The Hidden Beach and The Secret Path.

Previously a fashion editor, she lives in Sussex with her husband, three children and two dogs.

 

 

 

Click on the covers to read my review

 

          

 

          

 

 

 

Book Review: I Hate Nothing About You by Ella Sparkle

I Hate Nothing About You

by

Ella Sparkle 

 

Publisher: Cherry Publishing

 

Publication date: 29th July 2021

 

Series: Stormy Love 2

 

Genre: New Adult Romance 

Pages: 242

 

RRP: $6.75AUD (Kindle)

 

Format read: eBook

 

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

My review

 

I Hate Nothing About You is book two in the Stormy Love series. Book one Saying Yes was Jenna and Nick's story and Cassie is Jenna's best friend.

 

I loved Cassie, she was outspoken, zany and fun with a fondness for profanity. Her support of Jenna in book one endeared me to her. I knew life hadn't always been easy for her and was eager to read her story.

 

We know from book one that Cassie meets Mike at the pizza shop where Jenna is working, but we only get scant facts from Cassie talking to Jenna. Book two is from Cassie and Mike's alternating point of view.

 

 Cassie finds it hard to love someone because during her life love always ended in hurt. These feelings are portrayed through her talks with her therapist and she has a lot of trauma to work through.

 

Mike is a wonderful love interest, a nice guy and very respectful, although he lacked communication skills which caused some upsets. 

I Hate Nothing About You has everything I love in a romance; a bit of angst, the inevitable road hump, lack of communication and then finally the HEA.

Ella's writing is engaging and I Hate Nothing About You is a heart-warming story that tells us communication is essential to every relationship and there are always two sides to every story.

my rating 5 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the author

 

A life-long love of reading coupled with pandemic lockdown is what initially prompted Ella to finally take all the stories floating around in her head and put them together on paper.

Ella writes the kinds of romance stories she likes to read with sexy, funny, nice guys and strong, smart, sassy women... tossing in a healthy dose of awkwardness, a whole lot of drama, a sprinkle of comedy, a ride on the emotional roller coaster and a little bit of sparkle for everyone.

As a firm believer in true love, Ella's romance stories always result in a "happily ever after".... it's just an adventure getting there.

Ella is living out her own happily ever after with her Prince Charming. After seventeen years together he still gives her butterflies and makes her heart race. They live together with their children, small dogs, and a big black cat who has deemed herself queen of the castle.

 

   

Blog Tour Book Review: A Secret at Tansy Falls by Cate Woods

A Secret at Tansy Falls

by

Cate Woods

 

Publisher: Bookouture

 

Publication date: 20th January 2022

 

Genre: Contemporary Fiction / Romance

 

Pages: 222

 

Format read: Ebook

 

Source: Courtesy of the publisher via Netgalley

 

About the book

 

As the summer sun sets over the sleepy Vermont town of Tansy Falls, Connie is reminded of how lucky she is. Every day, when she leaves the job she loves, managing the Covered Bridge Inn with her best friend Piper, she looks forward to returning to the farmhouse she shares with her husband Nate. At home, her flowerbeds overflow with day lilies and the weathered brick walls of her beautiful house glow in the evening light. The air is filled with the scent of the puffed apple pancakes she prepared that morning.

But one night, when Nate returns home, he is distant. He and Connie have been married for a long time, and while the laughter and lingering kisses have dwindled, Connie believed they would be together forever. So when a stranger arrives on their doorstep with a shocking secret about Nate, Connie’s life changes beyond all recognition.

Connie never thought she’d need to start over and live a life without Nate by her side. But as her heart breaks, Piper and the team at the inn are ready to help stitch it back together, with thoughtful advice washed down with warm spiced cider. As Connie begins to feel whole again, distraction arrives in the form of olive-skinned, broad-shouldered newcomer James. Nate has taught Connie that she doesn’t need a man, but James’s arrival helps her discover that she can follow her own dreams too. But as more secrets come to the surface, Connie wonders if she’ll ever truly be able to leave behind her past for good…

 

My review

 

We are back in the picturesque town of Tansy Falls with book 2 in the Tansy Falls series. Connie is the main character of this story. She is the manager of the Covered Bridge Inn owned by Piper and Spencer.

 

Connie is worried her husband has become distant since he lost his job and she feels her 20 year marriage is at an end, her father has a new girlfriend that is a decade younger than her and she is trying to organise a publicity weekend for the inn.

Cate Woods has piled dilemma after dilemma onto Connie as she struggles with her marriage, her job and her father's new relationship.

 

I really enjoyed book 1 with Nell's story and following her character growth. Nell's story was relatable however, Connie's story didn't affect me the same way. She wasn't likeable and her lack of communication with her husband was frustrating.

 

The imagery is vivid as Tansy Falls and its surrounds are described throughout the story. Characters  from book 1 have very brief appearances and I would have liked to have seen more of them.

Woods highlights the consequences of making assumptions and jumping to conclusions, along with the need for communication in marriage.

 

I have fallen in love with the beautiful town of Tansy Falls and even though the plot of book 2 didn't resonate with me I am looking forward to book 3 to see what's in store for this town and its residents.

 

My rating  3 / 5    ⭐⭐⭐

 

About the author

 

Cate Woods made the most of her degree in Anglo-Saxon Literature by embarking on a career making tea on programmes including The Big Breakfast, Who Wants to be a Millionaire and French & Saunders. After narrowly missing out on the chance to become a Channel 5 weather girl she moved into the world of magazine journalism, then ghostwriting and now writes novels under her own name. She has written two best-selling romantic comedies, Just Haven't Met You Yet and More Than a Feeling - and a festive novel, The Christmas Guest, under the name Daisy Bell. Cate lives in London with her husband and two children.

 

 

Book Review: Dr Bennett's Babies by Fiona McArthur

 Dr Bennett's Babies

by

Fiona McArthur

 

Publisher: Self Published

Publication date: 30th September 2021 

 

Series: Healing hands - Doctors by Specialty #2 

 

Genre: Romance

 

Pages: 195

 

Price: $5.99AUD (Amazon Kindle) 

 

Format read: eBook

 

Source: Courtesy of the author

 

About the book

 

Meet Marcus and Tilly in the battle of the birth suites. Can the past that haunts Marcus, the hospital's new obstetrician, be healed by everyone's favourite, midwife Tilly?

 

My review

 

Midwife Tilly has sworn off men after two failed romances, she needs a break. Even when her neighbour's good looking nephew comes to stay she tells herself she is definitely not interested. She's happy with a friendship status with Marcus.

When she learns Marcus is the new head obstetrician at the hospital and she doesn't agree with his new birthing policies their friendship status is sorely tested as they clash time and time again.

 

Dr Bennett's Babies is book #2 in Fiona McArthur's specialists series.  I've enjoyed all of Fiona's medical romance stories that I have read and this is no exception.

McArthur's females are always feisty and passionate about their work and her male characters are strong yet willing to listen and learn. They know what they want and are not afraid to wear their heart on their sleeve. Quite often they are just that tiny bit broken, as Marcus is in this story, and all they need is the support of a strong woman to help them move on from the past. 

 

There is lots of conflict between midwives and doctors and I can believe this would actually be true in any birthing hospital.

Fiona explores the theme of safe home births and water births with hospital support and backup.

As with all Fiona's midwife books there are a couple of birthing scenes and not all go smoothly. This may be a trigger for some readers. 

 

I loved the initial conflict between Tilly and Marcus with a light underlying sexual tension. Dr Bennett's Babies is an easy read. I thoroughly enjoyed it and read it in a few hours.

 

It seems I have read book #2 first but each book is a standalone story.

 

My rating 4 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

About the author

 

Fiona McArthur has worked as a midwife for thirty years. She is the clinical midwifery educator inner rural maternity unit and teaches emergency obstetric strategies while working with midwives and doctors from remote and isolated areas.

Fiona has written more than thirty romances, which have sold over two million copies in twelve languages. She has been a midwifery expert for Mother and Baby magazine and is the author of Aussie Midwives. She has also written the novels Red Sand Sunrise, The Homestead Girls and Heart of the Sky. She lives on a farm in northern New South Wales.

 

https://www.instagram.com/fiona_mcarthur_author/ 

 

 

Challenges Entered: Australian Women Writers Challenge AWW2021

 

                                   Aussie Author Challenge #Aussieauthor21

 

Book Review: Déjà Vu by Bobby Twidale

 Déjà Vu 

by

Bobby Twidale

Publisher: Cherry Publishing

 

Publication date: 30th April 2021

 

Genre: Romance

 

Pages: 253

 

Format read: eBook

 

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

About the book

 

Connie Bentley is not your average Newly Qualified Teacher. Moving back to live with her parents while working at St George's Independent Day School for boys is not how she imagined her life would be at thirty-two.

Art teacher Matt Turner is not average in any way. A relationship with a colleague eight years ago didn't lead to the happy outcome he'd expected — he’s now older, wiser, and warier.

When Connie and Matt meet, the spark of attraction is immediate and mutual. Although neither is going to admit to that because the more they learn about each other, the more they're both getting an uncomfortable feeling of déjà vu.

Will past hurt, raw wounds, and unexpected twists stand between them, or will they both get a second chance at love?

 

My review

 

Connie is back in her childhood home and on the bottom rung of a teaching career after a long term relationship ended badly.

I found the first half of this story really slow as it went through Connie's day to day life and her classes at the school. I did enjoy the slow burn romance with Matt, the sports teacher at the school. Matt was so sweet. He had been burnt before and was hesitant to open his heart.

 

I didn't warm to Connie at all and felt she was self-centred. Every decision she made was with herself in mind and she had done something previously that I just couldn't come to terms with.

 

With plenty of hurdles for the couple to negotiate there is also a big metoo moment in the story and I applaud Connie's courageousness where reporting this and following through was concerned.

 

Deja Vu is a slow burn romance story about starting afresh, making new friends and moving on with your life.

 

My rating 3 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐

 

 

 

Blog Tour Book Review: Twelve Days to Save Christmas by Elizabeth Neep

Twelve Days to Save Christmas

by

Elizabeth Neep

 

On the first day of Christmas, my true love… dumped me.

 

 

 

Publisher: Bookouture

 

Publication date: 19th October 2021

 

 

Genre: Romantic Comedy / Chick Lit

 

 

Pages: 297

 

 

Format read: eBook

 

 

Source: Courtesy of the publisher via Netgalley

 

 

 

 

About the book

Poppy loves Christmas and always goes all out to make this magical time of the year extra special for her boyfriend George. But George is strangely not in the spirit this year. As Poppy wrestles him into her Christmas jumper built for two for a holiday snapshot, she finds out why.

He’s leaving her. And she only has twelve more days until he moves out.

Poppy is heartbroken. But she’s not going to give up on their five-year relationship without a fight. George is the love of her life, and his warm and stable family are worlds away from her own chaotic upbringing. And she is sure he still loves her too – she just needs to remind him of all the reasons why. Twelve days: twelve chances to get her man back and save Christmas.

 

 

 

 My review

 

Twelve days to Save Christmas is a fun, upbeat romance read. 

Poppy is a girl in love, totally devoted to her long term boyfriend George who is part of an up and coming boy band. I immediately warmed to Poppy she exudes fun and happiness and is fully supportive of George, buying him coffees, meeting him for lunch and attending all his gigs. When George breaks up with her saying she is too needy, Poppy sees this as a challenge; she has twelve days to make George remember just how much he loves her.

As Poppy distances herself from George to prove to him she is not needy she starts to make new friends and try new ventures like volunteering at a church based community centre and joining a choir. 

Poppy feels that her whole life is George. All her friends were his friends, his family is her only family. She is nobody without George.

"I don't know who I am without him." - Poppy (Twelve Days to Save Christmas)

 Anyone who has been dumped by the love of their life will certainly relate to Poppy and be cheering her on as she starts to discover and accept who she really is. The split with George forcing her to confront her past and start to make decisions and do things to please herself.

I enjoyed the way Elizabeth Neep included a nod to the Twelve Days of Christmas song throughout the story; in the song sung by the choir, in the chapter headings and in all the cute things Poppy did for George.

Twelve Days to Save Christmas is a heart-warming tale of finding your true self, finding friends in the most unlikeliest places and the real meaning of family.

This story screams big screen! It was very visual and I could see it all being played out as I read. If you love feel good stories that make you smile you will love Twelve Days to Save Christmas. I'm looking forward to reading more by this author.

 

My rating 5 / 5  🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

 

 About the author

 

Photo credit: Juliet Trickey

Elizabeth Neep was born in 1990 in Derbyshire and now lives in London Bridge. After studying Law at the University of Nottingham and the University of New South Wales, she worked in magazine journalism, most noticeably writing for dazed and Confused and PETRle. Elizabeth now works as a non-fiction Senior Commissioning Editor and writes and paints in her spare time.

 

 

 

 

 

Book Review and Blog Tour: The Sound of Violet by Allen Wolf

 The Sound of Violet

by

Allen Wolf

 

Now a major motion picture

 

Publisher: Morning Star Publishing

Publication date: 21st September 2021

 

Genre: Romantic Comedy

 

Pages: 226

 

RRP: $10.80AU (Kindle edition)

          $ 7.96US (Kindle edition)

 

format read: eBook

 

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

About the book

 

 Desperate to find his soulmate, Shawn goes on one awkward date after another until he encounters the alluring Violet. He starts dating her, but his autism keeps him from realizing that she’s actually a prostitute.

Shawn thinks he’s found a possible wife while Violet thinks she’s discovered her ticket to a brand new life. This hilarious and dramatic award-winning story takes all kinds of twists and turns and has been adapted into a major motion picture.

 

My review

 

The Sound of Violet reminded me a lot of Muriel's Wedding, an Australian movie about a girl obsessed with the idea of getting married.

 

Shawn has wedding photos in his room, on his phone and around his desk at work. He is desperate to find 'the one'. His openness and lack of tact due to his neurodiversity   has all his dates running for the hils after an hour. Until he meets Violet, a sex worker. She knows Shawn doesn't understand what she does for a living but she is drawn to him as he is the only person who has ever been kind to her.

The Sound of Violet is a heart-breaking story of family breakdown but at the same time it also highlights the love of family through Shawn's garndmaother who would do anything to protect him and his brother Colin who teaches Shawn how to act in front of people.

When Shawn was around people he had to continually think about his words and his mannerisms. I can only imagine how hard it must have been for him in social situations.

Both Shawn and Violet had the common connection of people judging them before they got to know them.

Wolf highlights the real problem of human trafficking and how young girls are trpped into the sex-trade with no means of escape.

The writing is simplistic and the authors history with sceenplays is evident as the scenes and actions are highly visual. I could picture this on the screen as I was reading. It had a cinematic feel to it.

I was expecting The Sound of Violet to be a story about an autistic man looking for love but it was much more than that. It was a story about kindness, acceptance and healing. I can't wait to see it on the screen!

My rating  3.5 / 5    ⭐⭐⭐½

About the author

llen Wolf is an award-winning novelist, filmmaker, and game creator. He is also the host of the popular Navigating Hollywood podcast.

His debut novel “The Sound of Violet” has won multiple accolades and is described as “Entertaining, well-paced, and highly visual” by Kirkus Reviews. It is now a major motion picture. (www.TheSoundOfViolet.com)

He has won 39 awards for his games that are available as books, including You’re Pulling My Leg! and You’re Pulling My Leg! Junior. They’ve brought smiles to hundreds of thousands of people around the world.

As a filmmaker, Allen wrote, directed, and produced “In My Sleep,” which was released worldwide, won multiple film festivals, and is available on iTunes and Amazon Prime. Hollywood Reporter raved, “In My Sleep never rests, a credit to the tight, psychologically astute pacing of filmmaker Wolf.”

Allen graduated from New York University’s film school. He married his Persian princess, and they are raising two kids together. He enjoys traveling around the world and hearing other people’s life stories. Allen also cherishes spending time with his family, eating chocolate, and visiting Disneyland.

 

 

 

 

Book Review: The Trials of Adeline Turner by Angela Terry

The Trials of Adeline Turner

by

Angela Terry

 

Publisher: Girl Friday

Publication date: 19th October 2021

 

Genre: Romantic Comedy

 

Pages: 384

 

Format read: eBook

 

Source: Courtesy of the publisher via Netgalley

 

About the book

 

Thirty-three-year-old corporate attorney Adeline Turner has built her adult life around stability. Her professional life is thriving, but her personal life . . . not so much. Deep down she wants more, but finds it’s easier to brush aside her dreams and hide behind her billable hours. That is until a new client and a chance encounter with her high-school crush have her taking leaps she never planned. Suddenly unadventurous, nose-to-the-grindstone Adeline finds herself moving across the country from her predictable life in Chicago to San Francisco, falling into messy romantic situations, and trying to unravel an office-sabotage plot before it ruins her career.

Without the safety net of her old life in Chicago, Addie must become her own advocate and learn that people aren’t always who they seem. Which makes her wonder if the key to having the future she desires lies in uncovering the truth of the past.

 

My review

 

The Trials of Adeline Turner is a light and easy Rom-Com

The story follows the very likeable thirty-three year old Adeline as she navigates her life. Thinking that if she wants to find 'the one' she needs to get out and date. After joining a dating app she goes on a few not so great dates but when she does start seeing someone seriously she always seems to be the one not committing. 

 

Adeline is a career driven woman but would also like to find that special someone. Adeline goes through many ups and downs as she reconnects with her high school crush, is sabotaged at work right when she was due for a promotion, reaches out to the mother she  hasn't seen for twenty-one years and realises 'the one' might be the person right in front of you.

 

I really enjoyed reading The Trials of Adeline Turner and following Adeline's growth and reconciliation with her past. The story line was rather predictable but isn't that what you want from a romance read? Happy endings guaranteed!

 

My rating 3.5 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐½

 

About the author

 

photo credit Goodreads

Angela Terry is an attorney who formerly practiced intellectual property law at large firms in Chicago and San Francisco. She resides in San Francisco with her husband and two cats, and enjoys throwing novel-themed dinner parties for her women's fiction book club. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book Review: Saying Yes by Ella Sparkle

 Saying Yes

by

Ella Sparkle

Publisher: Cherry Publishing

Publication date: 6th May 2021

Series: Stormy Love #1

Genre: Young Adult / Romance

Pages: 321

Format read: eBook

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

About the book

 

Jenna had her life planned out.

She was going to get married to her college boyfriend, land a job at a prestigious law firm and, after attending law school, would work her way up to partner. She’d have it all; the man, the job, the white picket fence.

After things just not working out as planned, Jenna must say goodbye to her old plans and her dreams of a picture perfect future with that guy and that job, living that life.

Instead, she decides to rethink her strategy, instead of planning everything to perfection, Jenna takes a risk and starts ‘Saying Yes’ to new opportunities.

Saying Yes to a new job.

Saying Yes to flirting with the hunky Nick.

Saying Yes to a summer fling before starting law school.

Jenna and Nick might just have something magical, they’re crazy about each other from the moment they meet - are they crazy enough to make it work?  

My review

Saying Yes is a sweet Young Adult romance read. If you are after hot and raunchy this is not the book for you.

Jenna is suffering the effects of being dumped by her previous boyfriend when she is fired from her job. Feeling totally down she calls on best friend Cassie to cheer her up. Cassie hatches a plan that Jenna must say Yes to every new opportunity that comes her way.

Jenna was easy to warm to and I loved her zany friend Cassie. Cassie said what she thought in an honest forthright way. Her character brought a real vibrancy to the story.

Nick is dedicated to his company. He lives and breaths work with no time for a relationship. Nick also has an outgoing, outspoken friend in Baxter. I enjoyed Nick and Baxter's banter and their friendly ribbing. It came across as realistic and natural.

This was a fun read with introvert Jenna having to say yes to lots of things that were outside her comfort zone, like a job as a pizza delivery girl and a ride on a motorbike. Nick and Jenna's relationship is fraught with problems which had me eager to see how they would work it all out.

Saying Yes is a heartwarming, fun and sweet romance story with themes of communication, opening up, being yourself and finding the one.

4.5 / 5   ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

About the author

A life-long love of reading coupled with pandemic lockdown is what initially prompted Ella to finally take all the stories floating around in her head and put them together on paper.

Ella writes the kinds of romance stories she likes to read with sexy, funny, nice guys and strong, smart, sassy women... tossing in a healthy dose of awkwardness, a whole lot of drama, a sprinkle of comedy, a ride on the emotional roller coaster and a little bit of sparkle for everyone.

Ella is living out her own happily ever after with her Prince Charming. After seventeen years together he still gives her butterflies and makes her heart race. They live together with their children, small dogs, and a big black cat who has deemed herself queen of the castle.